Syntax Definition and Examples

In linguistics, syntax refers to the rules that govern the ways in which words combine to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. The term syntax comes from the Greek, meaning arrange together. The term is also used to mean the study of the syntactic properties of a language. In computer contexts, the term refers to the proper ordering of symbols and codes so that the computer can understand what instructions are telling it to do. Syntax Syntax is the proper order of words in a phrase or sentence.Syntax is a tool used in writing proper grammatical sentences.Native speakers of a language learn correct syntax without realizing it.The complexity of a writers or speakers sentences creates a formal or informal level of diction that is presented to its audience.   Hearing and Speaking Syntax Syntax is one of the major components of grammar. Its the concept that enables people to know how to start a question with a question word (What is that?), or that adjectives generally come before the  nouns they describe (green chair), subjects often come before verbs in non-question sentences (She jogged), prepositional phrases start with prepositions (to the store), helping verbs come before main verbs (can go or will do), and so on. For native speakers, using correct syntax is something that comes naturally, as word order is learned as soon as an infant starts absorbing the language. Native speakers can tell something isnt said quite right because it sounds weird, even if they cant  detail the exact grammar rule that makes something sound off to the ear.   It is  syntax  that gives the words the power to relate to each other in a sequence...to carry meaning—of whatever kind—as well as glow individually in just the right place(Burgess 1968) Syntactic Rules   English parts of speech often follow ordering patterns in sentences and clauses, such as compound sentences are joined by conjunctions (and, but, or) or that multiple adjectives modifying the same noun follow a particular order according to their class (such as number-size-color, as in six small green chairs). The rules of how to order words help the language parts make sense. Sentences often start with a subject, followed by a  predicate (or just a verb in the simplest sentences) and contain an object or a  complement  (or both), which shows, for example, whats being acted upon. Take the sentence Beth slowly ran the race in wild, multicolored flip-flops.  The sentence follows a subject-verb-object pattern (Beth ran the race). Adverbs and adjectives take their places in front of what theyre modifying (slowly ran; wild, multicolored flip-flops). The object (the race) follows the verb ran, and the prepositional phrase (in wild, multicolored flip-flops) starts with the preposition in. Syntax vs. Diction and Formal vs. Informal   Diction refers to the style of writing or speaking that someone uses, brought about by their choice of words, whereas syntax is the order in which theyre arranged in the spoken or written sentence. Something written using a very high level of diction, like a paper published in an academic journal or a lecture given in a college classroom, is written very formally. Speaking to friends or texting are informal, meaning they have a low level of diction. It is essential to understand that the differences exist not because spoken language is a degradation of written language but because any written language, whether English or Chinese, results from centuries of development and elaboration by a small number of users.Jim Miller(Miller, 2008) Formal written works or presentations would likely also have more complex sentences or industry-specific jargon. They are directed to a more  narrow audience than something meant to be read or heard by the general public, where the audience members backgrounds will be more diverse. Precision in word choice is less exacting in informal contexts than  formal  ones, and grammar rules are more flexible in spoken language than in formal written language. Understandable English syntax is more flexible than most.   ...the odd thing about English is that no matter how much you screw sequences word up, you understood, still, like Yoda, will be. Other languages dont work that way. French?  Dieu!  Misplace a single le or la and an idea vaporizes into a sonic puff. English is flexible: you can jam it into a Cuisinart for an hour, remove it, and meaning will still emerge.†(Copeland, 2009) Types of Sentence Structures Types of sentences and their syntax modes include simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences. Compound sentences are two simple sentences joined by a conjunction. Complex sentences have dependent clauses, and compound-complex sentences have both types included. Simple sentence: Subject-verb structure (The girl ran.)Compound sentence: Subject-verb-object-conjunction-subject-verb structure (The girl ran the marathon, and her cousin did, too.)Complex sentence: Dependent clause-subject-verb-object structure (Although they were tired after the marathon, the cousins decided to go to a celebration at the park.)Compound-complex sentence: Four clauses, dependent and independent structures (Although they werent fond of crowds, this was different, they decided, because of the common goal that had brought everyone together.) Syntax Variations and Distinctions Syntax has changed some over  the development of English through the centuries. The proverb  Whoever loved that loved not at first sight?  indicates that English negatives could once be placed after main verbs (Aitchison, 2001). And not all people speak English in exactly the same way.  Social dialects  learned by people with common backgrounds—such as a social class, profession, age group, or ethnic group—also may influence the speakers syntax. Think of the differences between teenagers slang and more fluid word order and grammar vs. research scientists technical vocabulary and manner of speaking to each other.  Social dialects are also called  social varieties.   Beyond Syntax Following proper syntax doesnt guarantee that a sentence will have meaning, though. Linguist Noam Chomsky created the sentence Colorless green ideas sleep furiously, which is syntactically and grammatically correct because it has the words in the correct order and verbs that agree with subjects, but its still nonsense. With it, Chomsky showed that rules governing syntax are distinct from meanings that words convey. The  distinction between grammar and syntax has been somewhat disrupted by recent research in  lexicogrammar, which takes the words into account in grammar rules:  For example, some verbs (transitive ones, that perform an action on something) always take direct objects. A transitive (action) verb example: She removed the index card from the old recipe box. The verb is removed and the object is index card. Another example includes a transitive phrasal verb: Please look over my report before I turn it in. Look over is the phrasal verb and report is the direct object. To be a complete thought, you need to include whats being looked over. Thus, it has to have a direct object. Resources and Further Reading Aitchison, Jean. Language Change: Progress or Decay? Cambridge University, 2001.Burgess, Alan. Enderby Outside. Heinemann, 1968.Chomsky, Noam. The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory. University of Chicago, 1985.Copeland, Douglas. Generation A: A Novel. Scribner, 2009.Miller, Jim. An Introduction to English Syntax. Edinburgh University, 2008.